Gardino's Ristorante Italiano

Went for a private memorial for a long time Los Gatos resident. The memorial was an open bar/catered event. The food was just great! They served 2 types of rigatoni. One was a marinara with meat (sausage maybe?) the other was a cream sauce. Both were very good. The star of the show was a chicken piccata with lemon and Capers. Thin tender chicken breast and the sauce was to die for. Even the salads (family style) were fantastic. The owner/manager? Was a very nice man. Very personable. The whole experience felt very relaxed. No pressure to hurry along at all. It was great to see all the old faces and the food and service were fantastic! If you're looking for a small venue downtown LG with good food and ample parking this is a great choice! Thanks to the owner for hosting our memorial! It turned out fantastic thanks to them! Two thumbs up!

So, I'll start by saying that it has been a few years since i have been to Los Gatos. I have two favorite places there: Gardino's and Black Cat Hats. I was really looking forward to both of them tonight, but Gardino's was such a huge disappointment that I likely won't go back.It used to be an accommodating place where you were greeted with a smile and were escorted to a table. Tonight I walked in and the bartender looked up when I walked in and said nothing. I stood around for a few minutes before a waiter, and I might add, the same waiter that has always worked there, greeted me. When I asked for a table for two he handed me a couple of menus and told me to sit wherever. After reviewing the menu I ordered a glass of Sangiovese and was told they were out but was told they had chianti and that it was "basically the same thing."I ordered a linguine dish with mussels but it was so spicy I couldn't eat it. When I told the waiter he shrugged and walked away. I was very hungry so I ordered fettuccine Alfredo. It was good. At the end of dinner I asked for coffee. I'm narcoleptic so it wasn't a want, it was a need for my 2 1/2 drive home. I was shocked to learn they didn't serve coffee. What Italian restaurant does t serve coffee with dessert? I have a three strikes and you're out rule with businesses and unfortunately Gardino's strike out three times in one visit:Strike 1-- poor serviceStrike 2--I want the wine I ordered, not a substituteStrike 3--no coffee OR espresso.Done, done, and done. Oh, and I guess I should add that the bill was $133+ with the tip. It was most certainly not worth the money!

I don't think there's any room for improvement when everything is just plain awful...where's the zero star option?

Don't judge a book by its cover is my after thought after finding this place. Talk about a local "dive" bar that blows your mind. I only found it by chance because it is a few steps from the Apple Store in a very pretty Los Gatos downtown street. Let's start with the music. The Summit band (I'm sure I didn't get their names right so please correct me!) rocked the place with songs that had the place moving, even in Spanish. Stephanie, the bartender, was one busy bee but she kept up with the influx of locals (this is a local bar). I typically default to Old Fashioned drinks as a basic starter but let me tell you. She made the best OF drinks I have ever had so I never needed to move up in my drink choices. Next, the food. I never eat a "dive" bars because they tend to be mostly fried foods. Not here! The ribeye steak tips as a specialty was so darn delicious. I have no idea why this place has such low ratings, because to me, it is what an unpretentious restaurant should aim for

Live love gardinos would spend the whole day here if I could. Would definitely recommend Kristina or Tower as bartenders, however, all of them are very nice! The service here is amazing and most of the food comes in fairly large portions at a great price too. Would recommend the meatball sandwich or just the meatballs in general. The pesto pasta is also a good go to as well as the pesto chicken salad. In addition, I love the bands that play here. It's always a good vibe and a fun place to socialize. It's a pretty relaxed place and nice area to hangout at. Everyone is always very welcoming and the environment is very friendly. It's clean in there as well and very nicely decorated. A fun place to check out if you're ever walking around, bored, or want to hang out with some fun and funky locals!

Earns the three stars for sure. Downtown Los Gatos has a lot to choose from and over the years much nicer restaurants offering better food choices have popped up. Gardinos has basic Italian food, nothing mind blowing and plenty of room for improvement. Used salt liberally instead of elevating flavor with other means. It has a full bar, and music several nights a week. Our waitress was exceptional. Very attentive and helpful.

My friend and I were there around 3pm on a Saturday. They had a few tables inside but it wasn't bustling. We had dogs so we wanted patio seating. I went in first to try to flag a table, literally stood there for quite a few mins and made eye contact with two people behind the bar, someone in the open space kitchen, yet NO ONE CAME UP to me or at least indicated they will help me shortly. After another min, I got annoyed and sent my friend in. Guess she took a while too. The waiter sounded so bothered by us the entire time. He came to check up on us a few times towards the end but we were over him. We each had a glass of wine and two chicken dishes. Got to say though, it was a really healthy pour of wine! I ordered chicken carbonara for myself but it definitely wasn't authentic. It was more like Alfredo sauce. All the food was a lie. My friend has the chicken parm and thought it was below mediocre in terms of flavor as well.I think i would have normally given the same service and same food but at a hole in the wall more like 3 stars, but since they were in the middle of dtlg, and charging said suited prices, there's a different standard.

I had heard good things about Gardino's but unfortunately it wasn't so good. Interior was sports bar aesthetics but fortunately nice seating outside. Didn't have most of the Cabernet Sauvignons, didn't have Splenda but did have less than wonderful wine. Mozzarella sticks weren't bad. Entree can 30 seconds after appetizer. Spaghetti Bolognese was absolutely garlic bomb and inedible. Veal piccata was tough for half and properly cooked. Mariners sauce was good but meatballs were bland lacking salt and seasoning. The bad service wasn't all the server's fault but still partially to blame. Advice is to walk a couple black to Italian Brothers. You will be soo much happier.

We showed up on a Wednesday and turns out that Guardinos of Los Gatos has an open Mic Night that starts at 7pm, with a bunch of talented musicians. Plus the food was so tasty. We will definitely be going back, to try the rest of their menu.

Minestrone soup ii had today was made with mostly squash and cabbage So it was not real minestrone soup. When i pointed it out to them they didn't charge me for it. Bread was not warmed. Good thing was glass of Sangovasie wine. Be careful it u decide To spend your money there !!!